Report - Frank Whittle/Power Jets Factory, Leicester, April 2015

[Bigian88]

The day started off with us looking for the factory in Lutterworth. After driving round for a good 20 minutes or so around various side streets and industrial estates, we eventually found a Frank Whittle society/club house area, which was clearly not what we was looking for. I did some further digging around online and found that the area of Lutterworth also had a factory owned by Frank Whittle which he relocated to after relocating from the factory in Whetstone, a few miles down the road. I set Google maps to an area close to where we needed to be and enjoyed the warm weather Leicester had to offer.

Upon arriving, access wasn't immediately obvious and the roads surrounding it were very busy. After spending a few minutes walking around the perimeter, we waited for the roads to clear and found a way in.

The site appears to have gone through a few different names in its hay-day, also being home to 'G E C Alsthom Engineering Systems'.


A little history:

The Engineering site at Whetstone, near Leicester was opened in 1941 as a facility to engineer and test early Jet engines. The site was initially setup by jet engine inventor Frank Whittle's company Power Jets ltd. Their workshops produced a number of experimental jet engines. However In 1944 Power Jets was Nationalized and Frank whittle left the company in protest at his lack of control. Within two years the decision was taken to centralize research and new facilities were built at the National Gas Turbine establishment in Farnborough. The Whetstone site then passed into the control of the General Electric Company.

By the late 1940s it became an important center for the rapidly growing nuclear industry. The Atomic Power Division produced specialist components, prefabricated parts and control systems for the early nuclear industry. Research was at the cutting edge and The work carried out at whetstone fed into the program that created the worlds first commercial scale nuclear reactor. It went on to play an important role in the construction and development of the Magnox Reactors.

Computer research was also an important part of the work conducted at Whetstone. In the late 1950's the site had two Early DEUCE computers. These were used for the calculation of engineering problems, conducting projections and simulations. As well as Writing programs for use in nuclear controls and further research into early computer science.

Anyway, on to the photos!

[

More here

 

[Miss Mayhem]

Nicely Captured, it has some interesting features
It's just a shame they have left it to get into this state

 

[Bigian88]

Yeah, its a fascinating place too.

I'm surprised its been left that way, surely the site has significant history and should be maintained at the very least.

 

[Goldie87]

Good to see it again, but a shame to see the state it's in now

 

[Bigian88]

It's a bigger site than I thought it would be with easy roof access for some roof shots, worth a visit if you're ever in the area

 

[Goldie87]

There used to be a lot of interesting stuff in there, sadly it's long gone now.

 

[Bigian88]

There used to be a lot of interesting stuff in there, sadly it's long gone now.

There's still a lot of paper work scattered around and a few machines left over which is still interesting to look at & read through (to me).

 

[:meerkat:]

damn that sites messed up. nice shots though it looks interesting

 

[Punk]

Good stuff

Yeah, its a fascinating place too.

I'm surprised its been left that way, surely the site has significant history and should be maintained at the very least.

Unfortunately, the powers that be in Leicester don't believe in preserving it's history. Look at Corah and if you every go to Leicester take a look at Frog Island, majorly neglected former industrial area

Good to see it again, but a shame to see the state it's in now

It is well and truly fooked, it was 2 years ago when I went

 

[Bigian88]

Good stuff



Unfortunately, the powers that be in Leicester don't believe in preserving it's history. Look at Corah and if you every go to Leicester take a look at Frog Island, majorly neglected former industrial area



It is well and truly fooked, it was 2 years ago when I went

We went to Corah, it wasn't even worth me getting my camera out to take pictures of it. I took a handful on my phone but that was it - we got caught by security on the way out too (believe it or not, the signs were right for once - the place is actually being monitored)

 

[mrwhite]

i love the corridor shots

 

[Bigian88]

I love using the 10mm wide angle for shots like that. I barely use my zoom lens anymore, I generally switch between the 10mm wide angle and the 35mm prime.

 

[Punk]

We went to Corah, it wasn't even worth me getting my camera out to take pictures of it. I took a handful on my phone but that was it - we got caught by security on the way out too (believe it or not, the signs were right for once - the place is actually being monitored)

A few of us got busted by a hobby bobby there last year, it's being monitored because the owners got a bollocking for not keeping it secured

 

[Bigian88]

Most of the building has been severely damaged by fire damage and most doors are barricaded or nailed shut. The Martial Arts studio and roof were the only things of moderate interest, the rest was just derp.

 

[Bolts]

I like this, not gonna lie. It's sad to see that it's in such a state